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Washington, D.C. & The Historic Triangle

Washington, D.C. & The Historic Triangle

Learn about our government, explore the treasures of our national museums, be reminded of sacrifices and American heroes.  Then travel to the Historical Triangle and see how America was settled, yearned for Independence and then fought for freedom.

  • Program Highlights

    Most American Christian Tours Education Programs to Washington, D.C. and the Historic Triangle Include:

    • United States Capitol Building
    • Supreme Court
    • Library of Congress
    • Night Illumination Tour of the national monuments and memorials (Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, MLK, World War II, Vietnam and Korean Wars)
    • Smithsonian Museums
    • Arlington National Cemetery
    • Museum of the Bible
    • Evening Colonial Tavern Dinner
    • Evening "Lanthorn" Tour or Special Evening Program at Colonial Willamsburg.
    • Guided Study Visit of Colonial Willamsburg
    • Jamestown Settlement
    • Yorktown Museum of the American Revolution
    • Yorktown Surrender Field

                                                                         
    With extended time or an additional day the program may include:

    • The National Archives
    • Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House
    • George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate
    • Additional memorials (Air Force, Iwo Jima, Pentagon)
    • White House Photo Stop
    • Jamestown Island
    • Busch Gardens

  • Climate

    The climate of Washington, D.C. varies greatly.  In the winter it can be very cold; temperatures rarely rising above freezing. In the summer it is hot and extremely humid. The best time to visit is in the spring and fall when the air is less humid and the temperatures are mild.
     
    Rain! It is almost impossible to miss rain on a trip to Washington. The rainiest season is in summer between May and August.
     
    Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown's climates are very temperate.  Winter is mild and short.  Spring and fall linger with bursts of color in blossoms and changing leaves.  Summer is hot and usually humid.
     
    Spring temperatures are usually very pleasant with nice breezes and sun - average temperatures are in the 60's.  Rain is always possible. Travelers in February and March should have layers of clothing as it can be cool with the average temperature being in the 40's.

  • Geography

    Carved from south-central Maryland, Washington is bordered on three sides by that state and sits across the Potomac River from Virginia on its fourth side. The District is also divided by the Anacostia River and Rock Creek. One fourth of the District is park land. The city is divided into four quadrants: northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest.
     
    ​The District has three natural flowing bodies of water: the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and Rock Creek.  Both Anacostia River and Rock Creek are tributaries of the Potomac.  The famous Tidal Basin is man-made and was developed in the early 1900s.
     
    Williamsburg is located in the middle of The Virginia Peninsula, one of three mainland peninsulas extending from the Virginia mainland.  The Peninsula is between the York and the James Rivers.  It is located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. This area of lowlands stretches about 100 miles inland and is covered with salt marshes and swamps. It's often called the Tidewater because of the flow of water up and down the coastal inlets and bays as the tide moves in and out.   Along the James River is found Jamestown and along the York River is found Yorktown.

  • Essentials

    • Gazing at the ceiling of the Rotunda 180 feet above you underneath the dome of the United State's Capitol.
    • Climbing the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
    • Visting candlelight buildings on a Colonial Williamsburg evening Lanthorn Tour with a costumed guide.
    • Exploring the recreated fort, Powhatan village and replica ships at Jamestown Settlement.
    • Walking along Surrender Road at Surrender Field on the Yorktown battlefield.

  • Get Prepared

    WATCH
    • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939, Columbia Pictures.
    • National Treasure,  2004, Touchstone Pictures.
    • Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot, 1957, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
    • Liberty! - The American Revolution,  1998, PBS Home Video.
       
    READ
    • Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the United States Constitution.  This is where the Constitution establishes a district that will later be known as the District of Columbia - the capital of our nation.
    • Forbes, Esther.  Johnny Tremain,  Yearling, 1944, reissue edition (1987)
       
    LISTEN
    • Patriotic marches;
    • President's Inaugural Addresses;
    • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech;
    • Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial.
    • Colonial fife and drum music. 
    • Listen to and read about "The World Turned Upside Down."  This song was played by the British army when they surrendered to the Americans at Yorktown.

  • Senses

    EAT
    • Being a capital city, Washington, D.C. is home to people from all over the world.  Be adventurous and try some ethnic food.
    • Also Washington is close to the Chesapeake Bay.  There is good seafood around Washington.  We recommend the clam chowder at the Fish Market in Alexandria.
    • There is a bakeshop just off of Duke of Gloucester Street behind Raleigh Tavern, the Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop, that sells baked goods.  The Shrewsbury cakes are very good as is the gingerbread.
    • If you have time, eat lunch at one of the Colonial Williamsburg Taverns. They are located along the Duke of Gloucester Street.  They tend to be busy in the spring, so it may be challenging to get in.
       
    DRINK
    • A lot of water.
    • Also the colonial-style bottled root beer and apple cider (found in shops along Duke of Gloucester Street or at vendors in the Market Square) is a tasty drink.
     

    ​

  • In A Word:

    • Washington, D.C. - Monumental.
    • Jamestown - Beginning.
    • Colonial Williamsburg - Proper.
    • Yorktown - Victory!

  • Surprises

    • The Capitol dome remains the tallest building in Washington, D.C., due to a rule within the building codes. The only exception to this rule is the Washington Monument, but this structure is not considered a building.
    • Seeing how large the memorials are in real life, especially the Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima).
    • Eighty-eight (88) of the buildings in Colonial Williamsburg are original to the Revolutionary (1770's) period!
    • From June until September of 1781, the French and American troops marched from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia where they forced the British troops to surrender. The distance they marched was 680 miles!
    • The Powhatan Indian princess Pocahontas learned about Christianity, English culture and how to speak English from settlers that were detaining her for ransom. Pocahontas converted to Christianity, was baptized and given the name “Rebecca.” She met John Rolfe and they moved back to England with their son Thomas. Her baptism picture hangs in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

     

  • Included Cities or Destinations

    • Washington, D.C.
    • Colonial Williamsburg
    • Jamestown
    • Yorktown
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